Joel Grey (center) with Andrew Rannells (right ) at the red carpet premiere screening of 'Mozart in the Jungle' on December 2, 2014.

Joel Grey may have been front-and-center in Hollywood and Broadway, but even after a 24-year marriage and two children, he never discussed his sexuality.

Now, the Oscar- and Tony Award-winner has opened up to People about something that his close friends and family have long since known about.

“I don’t like labels,” he said, “but if you have to put a label on it, I’m a gay man.”

Of course, growing up in Ohio when he did, the atmosphere wasn’t very conducive for being out and proud. Grey recalls hearing his mother talk about “fairies” and people being taken away to prison — or worse — for their sexuality.

Friends and family, including daughter, actress Jennifer Grey, his Cabaret co-star, Liza Minnelli, and close friend Bernadette Peters all extol him for how hard he worked and how much joy he brought to other people’s lives.

Grey, now a photographer (he has two works that hang in the Whitney), is still garnering fans from roles he’s had in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Private Practice and says he’s "still cookin'." His next photo book comes out later this year, along with his memoir.